Golf practice device



-al I June 1s, 1946. $.16. CLARKE 2,402,274

n GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE l Filed 001;. 2l, 1943 Patented June 18, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE Sidney G. Clarke, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Application October 21, 1943, SerialI No. 507,215

(o1. 27a- 35) l.

s claims. 1

.-Theprincipal objects of this invention are to provide a golf practice device on which an individual may practice the striking of a golf ball. with perfection of movement within extremely small space limitations and to indicate to the player with reasonable accuracy the distance and direction of the shot The principal features of the invention consist in the novel construction of a device whereby a means forv projecting a ball over a miniature coursezis operatively connected through a gear train with .a rotatable member adapted to be struck. with .a golf club, such mechanism being pivotally mounted so .as to swing in response to the direction of the stroke of the club of the player, thereby effecting the delivery of the ball in a line corresponding with the line of the stroke of deliveryof the player.

In the accompanying drawing: .Figure l is a perspective view of a device to whichmy. improved form of practice apparatus is applied.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device illustrated in Figure 1 with the platform cover removed.

Figure 3 is a. longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through the linev 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective detailof the .ball-propelling. mechanism.

. .Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view vided which will permit such freedom of actionv on the part ofthe player but which will give an accurate indication of the direction and range ofthe stroke without requiring the actual distance so :that the apparatus may be arranged in ag small space, such as within a room, and yet willhave lfull scope in the making of practice shots. f

` The form of thedevice herein shown comprises an"r enclosure I, the side and end walls of which form the boundaries of a, miniature golf course 2 which Vmay be suitably directed to indicate the landscape with a green and fairway with hazards.

At one end of the enclosure is arranged a platform 3 upon which the player stands. In substantially the middle of this platform is arranged an` opening 4 and projecting upwardly from within thev space beneath the platform is an arm 5" tha ball. head 6 of the size and characteristiof agoifgban. A

Arranged within the enclosure beneath the 2 platform 3 and rigidly secured to the bottom of the enclosure, is a vertical standard l, within which is pivotally mounted a bracketmember 8 which is adapted to swing in a horizontal plane.

At one side of this bracket member is arranged an angular-shaped vertical web 9 which supports an arrangement of journal bearings I0, II and I2 which are arranged transverse to the web.

Within the journal I0 is mounted a shaft I3 to which is keyed a spur pinion I4 and also a hollow drum member I5 of a friction clutch device.

A journal I6 mounted on the bracket member 9, in alignment with the journal I0, supports a shaft I'I on one end of which is keyed a clutch member I8 which is provided with suitable clutching means to engage the interior of the drum member I5 mounted on the shaft I3.

The arm 5 carrying the ball 6 is mounted on the clutch member I8 and projects upwardly through the opening 4 in the platform to the height of 'a teed golf ball, so that it rests in the proper position for play, with the player stand ing on the platform at one side of the ball.

Attached to the shaft Il is a counter-balance I9 which-is adapted to return the clutch mem ber I8 and the arm and ball 6 to a normal upright position after it has been struck.

It will be understood that amr suitable form of automatic centrifugal clutch may be used be tween the two aligned shaft members I3 and I7 to transmit the rotative movement imparted to the clutch member I8 `upon thestriking of the ball to the clutch' member I5.

The rotation thus transmitted to the shaft rotates the pinion I4. with a spur-gear 20 mounted on a shaft journalled in the bearing II, which shaft carries a pinion 2|, and the vpinion 2| meshes with a spur gear 22 mounted on a shaft journalled in the bearing I2.

This arrangement of a gear train imparts rotative movement to the gear 22, and the shaft on which it is mounted, on a considerably reduced ratio from the movement imparted to the shaft I3 by the striking of the ball.

A hub member 23V is secured to the shaft on which the gear 22 is mounted and has a radial arm 24 extending vertically upward.

A trough-shaped member 25 is supported by an arm 26 extending upwardlyfrom the pivotal bracket 8. This trough member is formed with a slot 21 in the end adjacent to the arm 24 carff ried'by theses; tram, which enc of the trough The pinion I4 meshesv I and the movement n roll outward over the slightly upwardly inclined surface 28 of the miniature golf course.

This surface may be covered with a suitable surface representing a fairway, and preferably one which will render a slight impedance to the rolling of the ball, and the ball projected from the trough member Will roll in the direction of the.

green 29 arranged at the Y far end of the course.

It will be particularly noted that. the entire ball-projecting device is mounted on a verticalpivot in the standard l, and this pivot isv preferably arranged in alignment with the longitudinal centre of the course. and the balll 6. Consequently if the player swings his club with either a slieing or hooking stroke the stroke will. be. out of line from the longitudinal centre lineandl-the impact ofthe blow againsty the ball tz will be. in anu guiar direction. Such a stroke will cause the en tire bracket member, to swing on its pivot, carrying the ball-projecting device to an angular-.position to either side of the longitudinal centre lili@ of the sol-f course. and the ballliloimtefl in the trough will be delivered in a, line. oliA centre directlv in accordance with the orf centre stroke of the golf club.

The train of gears .set in. motion by the impact of the players stroke. on the ball ti will continue its rotation until the arm 24 comes back to a Vortioal position where it will be; stopped by .tbe member 3.0. which is in the forni of a bell Crank lever nivotally mounted on theunderside of. the platform. 3 and having. the. extension endportion 3l arranged in. a .Convenient position where the player may put his.. foot upon it after striking the ball.. By pressing down on the member 3| the member Sill is tilted on. its .pivot .to brine, tho lower enel inte .the nath of movement the-erm 2G so that the .said ann will be arrested on oomthat the golf ball` which has been pmiected over the fairway will. .roll back. to tbestartinaizoint and will, be .guided inte the holding-trough. 251. by inclined guides 3?.. The trough. member is. pref-,erably Provldedwith wine extensions. .34 to faillite the ball into tl-ie trough member ready foi' the next play. w Y

It will be readily understood that manyA details of the structure described herein. may be altered without departing from the. principal rfeature of the invention( What I claim as my invention is:

l. A golf practice device comprising a miniature inclined course, a member pivotally mounted at the low end of said course to swing in a hcrizontal plane, means mountedY on saidY pivotal member for directing a golf ball to travel in a directed path on said inclined course, means for projecting the ball to leave said directing ,means and vtravelfreelyover said course in a directiondetermined by the angularpos'itlon assumed by' 4 the ball-directing means on the pivotal member, means adapted to be struck by a club rotatably mounted on said pivotal member, and reduction gear means for transmitting movement imparted to said rotatable member to said ball-projecting means.

2. A golf practice device comprising, a miniature course, a platform arranged above one end of said miniature course, a member pivotally mounted to. swing in a horizontal. plane below said platform, means on said pivotal member for holding and directing a golf ball, a train of gears mounted on said pivotal member, means mounted on, said pivotal member forward of its pivot and extending above said platform adapted upon being struck to impart movement to said train of gears, and means operatively connected with said train of gears adapted to engage said ball to project same said directing means longitudinally of said course.

3.. A golf; practice device comprising.. a miniature golf course, a platform arranged; at. one end of said course, and spaced vthereaboye, a, pivot standard rigidly mounted belowsaid platform, a bracket member mounted in said pivot standard to; swing in a .horizontal planerv between :the pivot and said course, a train of reduction gears jour. nailed on said bracket, a clutch member mounted at.V one end ofsaid trainoi' gears having a rigid arm. extending therefrom above said platform and having. a striker; ball atv the upper end, means ar-.. ranged atthe ,other end of said train. of gears for holding and. directing; a .golf ball, and' means operated by said gear train for projecting aball fromjsaid holding means longitudinally of said miniature course.

4. A gol-f practice device. comprising, a minia-v ture course, a platform arranged at-.one end of said course, a bracket member.'pivotallyy mounted toswing in a horizontal planearranged belowsaid platform, a reduction train of gears journalled on said bracket, a rotatable friction clutchdevice operatively arrangedr at one end. of said train of gearsandsupported frornsaid bracket, an arm extending radially from said clutch device. upwardly through said platform and havingv a striker .ball onthe` end. thereof means Vvforreturning said clutch..arm.to. itsnormalfupr-ight position, and means arranged vatl the other. end of said gear train,forprojectinga ball 1ongitu-` dinally of the course.. L I

. 5..,Aigolf practice device comprising, a miniaturegolf course. arrangedwith a slight longitudinal inclinaa platform arranged abovethe lower end;of said incline, a bracket member pivotally ymounted to. .swing in a horizontal plane adjacent to, the lower .end of the incline, a. trough-like memberrnounted on said bracket and larranged* to. direct aballvplaced therein in a, direction lonv gitudinally of.. said. incline, an, arm-rotatably mounted on saidbracketadaptedto strike a ballv mounted in said trough member to project same longitudinally .of the inclinemember,V a train of gears connected with saidv rotatable strikermem-- ber, and vmeansrnounted,on-said bracket and pro.- jecting .above said platformadapted upon being struckto .impart rotative :movement to said gear trainj 1 e .Y

-6 ..A golf practice device comprlsinga miniaturegolfcourse as c laimedinclaim 5, in'whioh said trough-like member is provided with laterallyextending wingguifde's, andvvguides sloping` inwardly toward 'said' wing guidesare arranged adjacent thereto on. said longitudinally sloping memb'er.,. y .l ...l

7. A golf practice device comprising, a miniature golf course, a platform arranged at one end, a bracket member pvotally mounted to swing in a horizontal plane below said platform, a striker member extending through said platform rotatably mounted on said bracket, a train of gears mounted on said bracket adapted to be operated by the operation of said striker member, a rotatable member connected with said train of gears adapted to project a ball longitudinally of said golf course, and a brake member mounted on said platform and adapted to intercept the ball-strike ing member and arrest the same following its striking movement.

8. A golf practice device comprising, a miniature golf course a platform arranged at one end,

l its striking movement, said brake member comprising a bell crank pivotally mounted in the platform and having an arm extending above the platform to be operated by the foot of the player.

SIDNEY G. CLARKE. 

